HEADlines Fall 2021 TIMELY NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY - CU Anschutz
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HEADlines
TIMELY NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY
Fall 2021
HEADlines
TIMELY NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY
Fall 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF NEUROSURGERY:
As summer draws to an end, there are so many exciting things happening in the Neurosciences on this campus!
In the past few months the Neurosurgery Department has continued our ambitious effort to bring together a
cohesiveness to the neurosciences on the Anschutz campus. We have met with the Departments of Neurology,
Psychiatry, Radiology, Bioengineering, Cell & Developmental Biology, Bio Informatics, Physiology & Biophysics,
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Radiology, Anesthesiology, and the divisions of Developmental Biology and
Informatics and Data Science in the Department of Pediatrics. In addition, we have met with the divisions of Neuro-
imaging, Human Anatomy, the Dean of the School of Engineering on the UC Denver campus, researchers in the
behavioral neurosciences on the Boulder campus and those involved with the Neuroscience Graduate Research
Program here on the Anschutz campus!! In this all out effort, we are moving towards finding ways for ALL of us to
work together, through innovation in research and clinical care. We are committed to make Colorado the healthiest
“brain state” in the Country. Did you know that there are over 150 principal investigators on the Anschutz
campus alone, doing research in the neurosciences?? Did you also know that more than 80% of the
research being done on this campus has something to do with your brain??
In this newsletter, we are excited to announce the arrival of Dr. Lotta Granholm-Bentley and Dr. Auralie Ledreaux
to the faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery. Dr Granholm is coming to us from the University of Denver,
where she has been the Executive Director of the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging. She is bringing with her an
exceptional colleague, Dr. Auralie Ledreaux. Both will bring strong innovation in the neurosciences to our campus.
They will significantly expand the research portfolio of the Department of Neurosurgery, provide strong mentoring to
our residents, medical students and neuroscience researchers, and bring with them an impressive track record in
federal and international research funding and peer reviewed publications.
We would also like to introduce in this newsletter, two new Neurosurgery Community Advisory Council Members,
Rick Fort and Eric Neeper. Rick and Eric will bring strong strategic planning, business, and legal skills to our already
robust council. Read about these exciting individuals in the pages ahead.
Finally, make sure to take note of our incredibly exciting upcoming community wide event
that launches on September 16th, “TED for your HEAD!” We hope to see all of you
there, as we work hard to integrate the basic sciences, translational research, clinical care
and patient satisfaction to make Colorado the “healthiest brain state” in the country!!
Kevin O. Lillehei, MD
Professor & Ogsbury-Kindt Chair
Department of Neurosurgery
WELCOME NEW INNOVATIVE RESEARCHERS
The CU Neurosurgery Department is proud to welcome Ann-Charlotte (“Lotta”) Granholm-
Bentley, PhD. She will begin as a full professor with our research faculty on October 1st. Since
2016, she has been the founding Executive Director of the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging
at the University of Denver and has been an active Neuroscience researcher and professor for
decades. She started CoCARE (Colorado Coalition for Aging Research and Education), which
consists of 7 Colorado-based Universities to date, and the DSBC (Down Syndrome Biobank
Consortium), which consists of 8 Universities in the US and 3 in Europe, all studying the
Ann-Charlotte (“Lotta”) biological mechanisms for cognitive impairment in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Granholm-Bentley, PhD
Her research focuses on neuroplasticity and aging, especially related to neurodegenerative
diseases, as well as exosomes and biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion. Dr.
Granholm has more than 11,000 citations and an h-index of 59. Twelve publications have been
cited more than 200 times.
Dr. Granholm received her PhD/DDS in dentistry and neurobiology from the Karolinska Institute
in Sweden in 1985, then did her post doc in Neuropharmacology at CU Health Sciences Center
from 1985-88. She came back to Colorado after 14 years as the director of the Center on
Aging at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Granholm continues her relationship with
the Karolinska Institute with an active appointment there, the prestigious Swedish Research
Institute that gives out the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology.
Aurélie Ledreux, PhD will also join us October 1st after being with the Knoebel Institute for
Healthy Aging at the University of Denver since 2016. With her undergraduate degree in
Biology from the University Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France in 2001, and a Ph.D. in
Environmental Toxicology from AgroParisTech in Paris, France in 2010, Dr. Ledreux has fast
become a “mover and shaker” in the Neuroscience world. A native of Paris, she is bilingual
and left France in 2011, when she was awarded with a postdoctoral fellowship from the
National Research Council of the National Academies to work at the Marine Biotoxins Program
Aurélie Ledreux, PhD for NOAA. She has been highly successful in obtaining independent research grants from
the National Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institutes on Aging, and she has active
collaborations with several investigators at DU, CU, UC Irvine and the Medical University of
South Carlina (MUSC). Her current research interests focus on early biomarkers in dementia as
well as after multiple traumatic brain injuries.
NEUROSURGERY COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COUNCIL GROWS!
Dr. Richard (Rick) Fort, PhD began his career in the space shuttle program at Kennedy Space Center
where he worked for Martin Marietta, Lockheed, and NASA in the areas of organizational development,
leadership and total quality management. He continued his career in the telecommunications industry
with Time Warner Cable then moved into the world of education when he bought a Sylvan Learning
Center franchise.
In 1995, he founded Education Sales Management, which quickly became the leading provider of student enrollment
services for colleges and universities around the country as well as K-12 private tutoring centers. For 16 years, ESM
worked with over 1,000 learning centers, college campuses and online programs, grew to 800 employees, and was
acquired by the Xerox Corporation in 2011.
From 2013 – 2016, Rick was President & COO of CereHealth Corp., a brain analytics company that uses Artificial
Intelligence technologies to help physicians diagnose brain dysfunction, efficiently manage patient care, and improve
patient outcomes. He has served on CereHealth’s Board of Directors since 2011. Today, Rick runs The Fort Knocks
Company, an investment management company focused on the life sciences and clean tech energy sectors. He
advises start-ups and entrepreneurs and sits on several Boards of Directors. He earned a B.A. in psychology at
Louisiana State University, an M.S. in experimental psychology from Northeast Louisiana University, and a Ph.D. in
organizational psychology from Walden University.
Eric Neeper, JD is a seasoned litigator with Robinson & Henry, P.C., on its Civil Litigation and
Business Law Teams. Eric has tried cases in various state and federal courts, and he is licensed to
practice law in Colorado, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His impressive repertoire includes complex
matters involving civil, commercial, and corporate litigation claims.
Prior to earning his J.D., Eric obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic and Toxicological
Chemistry. Eric held a prestigious internship with the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s Office
at a time when critical DNA testing procedures were first implemented.
After spending more than a decade in the business arena, Eric decided to study law. Eric was an active law student,
serving as the Widener Law Review’s managing editor and the Intellectual Property Society’s president. He played an
instrumental role in creating “Nanotechnology and the Law,” a blog written and operated by faculty and students. In
his last year of law school, Eric held a judicial externship at the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware where
he clerked for Chief Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thygne. Eric also co-authored “Toward a Neuroscience Model of Tort
Law: How Functional Neuroimaging Will Transform Tort Doctrine,” which is published in Columbia University’s Science
& Technology Law Review (2012).
NEWLY DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA
CU Neurosurgeon, Ryan Ormond Discusses Newest Guidelines
for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
The most common form of malignant “In this podcast, we discuss a paper
brain tumor is called a glioblastoma. that is a systematic review of the
It is considered the deadliest human benefit of surgery for newly diagnosed
cancer because it is diffuse and erratic glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer).
and grows so rapidly in brain tissue. It is Removing as much tumor as possible at
surgically complex to remove, and the surgery without giving the patient new
cells mutate at such a rapid rate that neurological symptoms is recommended.
most current cancer treatments just This is true even in selected patients
can’t keep up with them. Survival rates with cancer on both sides of the brain
have stalled out since the mid 2000’s and in the elderly. There are a number of
and most patients are given two years assistive technologies available to help
or less, depending on how much of the make tumor removal more successful.
tumor is removed early on. This paper serves as a neurosurgery
guideline for the care of these patients
Dr. Ryan Ormond and some of his colleagues were recently featured and is endorsed by the American
on a podcast hosted by the American Association of Neurological Association of Neurological Surgeons and
Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The podcast the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.”
was mostly centered on surgical interventions, but also gave clear
indications into the complexity of treating these tumors. To listen to the full podcast:
Cytoreductive Surgery in the
Management of Newly Diagnosed
Glioblastoma in Adults: A Systematic
Review and Evidence‑based Clinical
Practice Guideline Update
https://soundcloud.com/
cnsneurosurgeon/cns-guidelines-
podcast_newly-diagnosed-glioblastoma/
s-YpfZJtoOoXL
WELCOME!
New Research Assistants & Student Researchers
Rhett Kilgore is Jonathan Platt, Daniel Lovasz,
joining the department a Bioengineering an undergrad at
of neurosurgery as a graduate student the University of the
professional research at CU Anschutz, Incarnate Word, will
assistant in Dr. Ormond’s will be working with be working as a
lab. He recently received Dr. John Thompson student researcher
his Bachelor’s degree as a student with Dr. Xiaoli Yu and
in Neuroscience from researcher. Dr. Graner.
Colorado State University.
5280 “TOP DOCS”
Known nationally for
his excellence in brain
CU Neurosurgeons Make 5280 “Top Docs” for 2021! and pituitary tumors,
one might also see
For more than 25 years, 5280 magazine has asked physicians in the Denver
Dr. Lillehei riding
area whom they would trust to treat themselves or a loved one. Over 340
his Harley during
doctors—in 100 specialties—were nominated by their peers this year.
the rare occasions
Congratulations to the CU Neurosurgeons who made the list this year!
when he takes time
off! As the chair of
Known for his An “up and comer” in the Denver the Neurosurgery
exceptional clinical area, we are excited to announce Department, it’s not
skills and dry sense his FIRST “Top Doc” recognition! surprising that this is
of humor in the As a faculty of our department, the 20th time we see
Neuro ICU, Bob Dr. Craig serves at Denver Health, his name as a “Top
Neumann has been is known for his amazing work Doc” in this particular
recognized for the in neuro spine surgery, and is local contest.
seventh time and is also somewhat of a local music
certainly one of our celebrity, having performed at
stars! Red Rocks!!
MOBILE STROKE UNIT BEGINS NEW
“EARLY STROKE BIOMARKERS” STUDY!
Congratulations to our entire Mobile Stroke Unit team The Mobile Stroke Unit is a specialized ambulance
and Dr. Robert Kowalski for enrolling the first two built with a CT scanner onboard to obtain brain
patients in a Mobile Stroke Early Biomarkers study imaging at the site of stroke onset, typically at a
recently launched at CU Anschutz. “To our knowledge patient’s home. The CU Anschutz mobile stroke unit
we are the first center in the country to begin collecting is the third such specialized ambulance in the United
blood in the field like this on a mobile stroke unit, with States, and the fifth in the world. This research,
simultaneous brain imaging and clinical exam in the conducted by the CU Department of Neurosurgery in
ultra-early phase after stroke symptom onset,” conjunction with the Department of Neurology will be
Dr. Kowalski explained. “The data we gather from among the first in the world to obtain blood samples
these blood samples will be extremely valuable, as pilot immediately after the stroke occurs and analyze them.
data for research and grant applications (at least two These blood samples and brain images, housed
of which we are finalizing now), and for collaboration and maintained at the University of Colorado, will
with other institutions. We are now working with the be a national source of critical data for research on
Mobile Stroke group in Berlin, Germany to collaborate outcomes following stroke, particularly for patients
on a large grant submission focusing on ultra-early treated immediately upon onset of their symptoms.
biomarkers in stroke.”
GREAT JOB, DR. WILKINSON
AND COLLEAGUES
Congratulations to Corbett Wilkinson, printed mockups of Danner’s skull, and a purple
CU Pediatric Neurosurgeon and his halo device post surgery (called a rigid exernal
wonderful colleagues at Children’s distraction device) which she wore for four months,
Hospital Colorado for their excellent attached to her skull and connecting her jaw and
care and perseverance with forehead with wires.
young patient, Danner Plumhoff of
Montrose, Colorado. Born nine years Going forward, Wilkinson and the neurosurgery
ago, Danner has struggled through team will continue to monitor Danner’s shunt every
numerous surgeries and diagnosis, year, but her team hopes she won’t need more
Corbett Wilkinson, MD
CU Pediatric Neurosurgeon, including craniosynostosis, mild craniofacial surgery. Instead, Danner’s treatment will
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Chiari malformations (structural focus primarily on orthodontics and overcoming her
defects in the base of the skull and persistent sleep apnea.
brain), midface hypoplasia (undeveloped upper
jaw, cheekbones, and eye sockets), narrow sinus “She’s been through a lot, especially for someone
passages, hydrocephalus, strabismus (an eye her age,” Wilkinson says. “But she’s a spunky kid,
muscle disorder), a severe underbite, and a floppy and she used that spunkiness to get through it.”
soft palate. Although specialists were almost
certain she had Crouzon or Pfeiffer syndrome all
the genetic testing came back negative. Eventually
an endocrinologist at Children’s was able to
identify another very rare symptom involving skin
irregularities that would lead to a positive diagnosis
of Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. It is a
form of craniosynostosis, a condition in which there
is premature fusion of the fibrous joints (sutures)
between certain bones of the skull. The sutures allow
an infant’s head to grow and expand. Eventually,
these bones fuse together to form the skull.
Finally in January of 2020, it was time for the
“big surgery.” The nine-hour surgery — called a
monobloc —took a lot of planning and preparation, Danner and some of her favorite farm animals before the big surgery.
including a virtual surgical planning session, 3D
For the entire story: news.cuanschutz.edu/department-of-surgery/craniofacial-patient
CONGRATULATIONS,
DR. SAMY YOUSSEF AND
COLLEAGUES
Dr. Youssef and colleagues have done it again! Their research
on the “Impact of vestibular nerve preservation on facial
and hearing outcomes in small vestibular schwannoma
surgery: a technical feasibility study” made the cover of Acta
Neurochirurgica, The European Journal of Neurosurgery! This is
the second journal cover on which they have been featured just
in the past few months!
THANK YOU DONORS!
Once again, we are very grateful to some amazing
donors for their unexpected, generous gifts!
To Gail West, many thanks for the $122,000 gift to the
Hopper Endowed Glioblastoma Research Fund. This
gift will significantly enhance the research we are able
to do with our brain tumor tissue bank.
NEUROSCIENCES ON THE MOVE
CU Campuses coming together around Neuroscience
innovation, research and clinical care!
TED for Your Head Comes to CU Anschutz Campus!!
That’s right! There is SO much going on in the
neurosciences across all of the CU campuses, it’s hard
to keep up! But we are trying! Join us as we launch
TED for your HEAD!! A Third Thursday Happy Hour near
the CU Anschutz Campus, but intended for anyone and
everyone involved in research, innovation, clinical care,
treatment, administration, funding, or patient experience
surrounding the massive field of neurosciences. This fun,
interactive and collaborative event will launch with two
short TED talks, centering on the Neurosciences, offered
by one “seasoned” Ted talker, and two researchers in
bioengineering. The beer is free, the venue is roomy and
bright! AND ALL ARE WELCOME!! Covid protocols will be
strictly enforced so bring a mask!
Matt Vogl, MPH Richard Weir, PhD Emily Gibson, PhD
Director, National Mental Department of Bioengineering Department of Bioengineering
Health Innovation Center “Optogenetics, Neural Interface “Optogenetics, Neural Interface
(and seasoned TED talker!) & Robotic Limbs, Oh My!” & Robotic Limbs, Oh My!”
“Cutting Through the Hype
of Tech for Your Brain”NEUROSCIENCES ON THE MOVE
CU Campuses coming together around Neuroscience
innovation, research and clinical care!
TED for your HEAD Monthly Happy Hour Launch!!
When: Thursday, September 16th
Time: 5 to 7 p.m. (TED talks begin promptly at 6 p.m.)
Where: Plains Club Gallery (next to Cedar Creek & Lost Coffee) just north
of CU Anschutz Campus 2100 N. Ursula St. (near Montview & Ursula)
What: Networking, collaboration, and casual FUN!!
Beer provided by Ursula Brewing Company
Light snacks provided by the Department of Neurosurgery BR
ING
MA A
SK!
CU Denver & CU Anschutz
Collaborate Again!
On September 28th, at our
weekly grand rounds, CU
Department of Neurosurgery
will host two engineers from
the School of Engineering at Tim Lei, PhD Brecca Gaffney, PhD
Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering
CU Denver. Join us at 9:30 Department Department
a.m. in the Shore Auditorium at CU Denver CU Denver
the Ben Nighthorse Campbell “Real-time Action “Musculoskeletal
Potential Neural Biomechanics: Ground up
Building (center campus). Information Decoding” and Top Down Applications”Left to Right:
Jody Tanabe, Director
of Neuroradiology
Daniel Kramer and Steve
Ojemann, Neurosurgeons
Drew Kern, Movement
Disorders Neurologist
IMPROVED PATIENT EXPERIENCE!
The Focused Ultrasound has finally arrived in the OR
at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital!
After years of waiting, CU faculty neurosurgeons,
neurologists and radiologists are thrilled to be launching new
technology in the UC Hospital OR. Currently approved for
state-of-the-art treatment of essential tremor, it is hoped
that this new non-invasive procedure will soon provide
safe options for Parkinson’s Disease treatment, brain
tumor treatment, and much more. If you think you might
be a candidate, call the neurology clinic and schedule an
appointment with Dr. Drew Kern today. (720) 848-2080.CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR RESEARCHERS!
New Funding Announcements
Faculty: Dr. Alexander (PI)
Sponsor: American Epilepsy Society
Title: MTOR Pathway Dysfunction and Hub Cells in Focal Cortical Dysplasia
Total Amount: $50,000
Project Period: 7/1/2021-6/30/2022
Faculty: Dr. Welle (Mentor)
PI: Spencer Bowles
Sponsor: NIH-NINDS F31
Title: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances motor learning through temporally-precise
cholinergic neuromodulation
Total Amount: $34,288 per year; $68,576 total
Project Period: 7/1/2021-6/30/2023
Faculty: Dr. Thompson and Dr. Kramer (MPI)
Sponsor: The Kavli Foundation
Title: Identifying neurophysiological biomarkers of motor impairment in
Parkinson’s disease
Total Amount: $10,000
Project Period: 7/1/2021-6/30/2022
Faculty: Dr. Ormond (PI)
Sponsor: AHA (Supplement)
Title: The role of mitochondrial transfer and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in
neuronal preservation after ischemia
Total Amount: $35,000
Project Period: 7/1/2021-6/30/2022
Faculty: Dr. Wilkinson (PI)
Sponsor: Rocky Vista University
Title: Pre-Clinical Research Mentor
Total Amount: $1,200
Project Period: 8/1/2021-7/31/2022You can also read
